Double growth rhythm for Milka chocolate over Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods posted turnover in 2006 of over RON 400 million (€114 mln) and net profit of RON 40 mln (over €11 mln), reported to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

According to Peter Muller, General Manager of Kraft Foods Romania, top sales were for chocolate, although the company had significant growth also for coffee.

The domestic chocolate market was estimated last year to be worth €250 mln, and producers are expecting a 20 percent rise in 2008. Kraft Foods is forecasting double-digit growth, albeit lower than the 20 percent. Main competitors are Kraft Foods, Heidi Chocolat Suisse, Kandia-Excelent and Supreme Chocolat.

Kraft Foods’ best-known brand of chocolate is Milka, whose brand brought in revenue 40 percent higher than in 2006, said Muller. Since coming onto the local market in 2002, Milka’s market share has increased ten-fold, to reach a current 20 percent, said Kraft officials.

Kraft Foods Romania, controlled by the American group with the same name, yesterday launched a new plastic resealable wrapper, worth an investment of several million dollars. To date plastic-wrapped chocolate came from Germany but the company will soon begin producing several assortments of the premium brand chocolate in the new wrapping in its Brasov factory.